Ask a music scene micro celebrity

[electrical]

From this thread:

I have traveled in the music scene as a musician and recording engineer for better than 25 years. I have worked on a couple thousand records, some of them with famous rockstars, though most of them you're probably never heard of. I know a lot about making records, recording technology, touring, being in a rock band and the like. I own Electrical Audio, a 2-studio recording complex in Chicago, Illinois, where I make records every day.

I will answer any questions related to being in a touring/recording rock band, working in the studio with musicians both great and famous, making records, brushes with actual rock star celebrities, etc.

In NLHE, I am a prolific donator. I can hold my own in 7stud.

Any questions?

[PattdownManiac]

You are Steve Albini? That is awesome. Of all the people you've worked with what bands do you feel have the best musicianship.

[electrical]

Pattdown, the Jesus Lizard was easily the best group of musicians I've ever worked with in terms of aggregate talent and ability, but I've worked with a bunch of incredible musicians on individual instruments. I have been most impressed by great drummers and great singers, because drumming and singing are the two most difficult things to do well.

Drummers:
Jim White (Dirty Three, Nina Nastasia)
Rey Washam (Scratch Acid, Big Boys, Rapeman, Ministry)
Britt Walford (Slint, Breeders)
Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd, Ministry, Pigface)
Glenn Kotche (Wilco, Edith Frost)
Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick)
Dave Grohl (Nirvana)

Singers:
Nina Nastasia
Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)
Kim Deal (Pixies, Breeders)

Most recently, I had my mind blown by Joanna Newsom's playing on the harp. She is a wonder on that thing.

[PattdownManiac]

Which album of her's did you record? She is so great!

[whale_hunter]

Do you honestly feel like Cobain was a genuis? Or just a hard worker guy who hit the lotto?

[electrical]

Genius is a weird and inappropriate word, and hard work is underrated, but Kurt Cobain had a distinct and personal take on the world, and generally, when someone strikes a chord with his audience, that's what people respond to.

There were a lot of bands the "sounded like Nirvana" at the time Nirvana made it big, but none of them have had the same long-lasting influence. I have to admit that I wasn't particularly a fan of Nirvana when I was asked to work on In Utero, but during the course of making the record I came to appreciate that they were genuine about their band and their music, that Kurt was capable of sophisticated thinking, and that they and their music were unique.

If you think of the other bajillion-sellers of the Nineties, not very many of them have survived as significant influences today. I think there's a reason beyond luck for that to be the case.

[PattdownManiac]

Who were the worst musicians? Any guys that could barely play their instruments?

[electrical]

[ QUOTE ]
Who were the worst musicians? Any guys that could barely play their instruments?

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, very few people who can't play at all find themselves in the studio making a record. More common is a band whose expectations outstrip their abilities, even if only by a little bit. If the band's aesthetic allows their record to reflect their limitations, then it isn't much of a problem. Many great records have gaffes and clinker notes on them -- listen closely to Led Zeppelin or Crazy Horse records and you'll hear a bunch of clams. If a band wants an album with no imperfections on it, but is unable to play impeccably, then the meticulous process of piecing-together a record can be exhausting. I am grateful that the bands I work with usually don't have budgets at their disposal to make records like that, because it is torture.

[electrical]

[ QUOTE ]
Who were the worst musicians? Any guys that could barely play their instruments?

[/ QUOTE ]
Forgot to answer your actual question. Urge Overkill.

[cameronw01]

If asking two is rude then feel free to ignore this, but I figured I might as well try and push my luck.

Do you ever listen to albums or songs and just think "ugh, If I'd recorded this it could have sounded so much better, I'd have....."?

Any examples if so?